Interlocking script letters



Nov. 3, 1970 A. BRAUN ETAL 3,537,202

INTERLOCKING SCRIPT LETTERS- Filed Oct. 17, 1968- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w w E 4i FIG. 1

1NVENTOR5, ALBERT BRA UN FRANK G. ASMl/S FRANK R. AsMz/s BY A A TTORNEY Nov. 3,1970 BRAUN ETAL INTERLOCKING SCRIPT LETTERS 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1968 INVENTORS;

'ALBERT BRAl/N FRANK G. A-SMUS FRANK R. ASMflS By 6M 1 ATTORNY United State Patent 015? 3,537,202 Patented Nov. 3, 1970 3,537,202 INTERLOCKING SCRIPT LETTERS Albert Braun, Valley Stream, and Frank G. Asmus, West Hempstead, N.Y., and Frank R. Asmus, Bethlehem, Conn., ansignors to Letterhouse Incorporated, Valley Stream, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 768,407

Int. Cl. G091 7/02 US. Cl. 40-140 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A font of individual script letters molded of plastic are provided with interlocking and aligning means whereby the resulting assembly is neatly aligned in a unitary structure.

This invention relates to script letters so designed and constructed that they may be interlocked to form a unitary word or name for attachment to a back board.

BAOKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a need for signs, as for example, signs bearing the name or address of a householder for attachment to buildings. Heretofore such signs have been custom handcrafted at considerable expense. A more economical method of production is the forming of individual letters by molding and then assembling the letters in a unitary arrangement. The problem arises in the difliculty of subsequently aligning the characters to provide a neat professional appearance. In particular this is diflicult for the amateur to do.

The present invention provides a font of script letters each having means to interlock with and automatically align with its neighbors. This results in an attractive sign of aligned characters which may be easily installed.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an interlocking script letter.

A further object is to provide an interlocking, selfaligning, script letter.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, impart, become obvious from the follow ing more detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms an integral part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the various figures of the drawing, like reference characters designate like parts.

FIG. 1 shows in a front elevational view, a font of script characters;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a group of letters; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the letters of FIG. 2 assembled in a single sign.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, a font of letters suitable for the practice of the invention is shown in FIG. 1.

The letters 10 are characterized by a rib 12 leading into the letter and rib 14 trailing from the letter. The leading rib 12 and trailing rib 14 are provided with interlocking tab members 16 and 18. To illustrate the essential elements, three typical letters, a, x and e are shown in FIG. 2. The letters are shown interlocked in FIG. 3.

One interlocking means is that shown in FIG. 2 where the leading rib has a tab 18 carrying a tongue 20 which is received in a slot 21 in the tab 16 of the trailing rib. It will be appreciated that the tongue could be located in the trailing rib and the slot in the leading rib. While the tongue-and slot is presently preferred, other interlocks may be used as, for example, snap fasteners, provided however, that alignment means are provided. Further, the selected locking means should be capable of being molded in simple molds which do not use cams.

Referring again to FIG. 2, there is shown locking tabs 19a, 19b, which interlock and align the letters. The particular interlocking method shown is a lap joint having shoulders 23 and 24 which mate to maintain alignment. Additionally, tongue 20 mates with slot 21 to interlock the members and to aid in alignment of the characters.

Since the end letters have unused interlock tabs, the leading end of the end letter e is cut ed and plugged into the trailing end of the first letter a.

Bores 30 are provided in each letter for entry of a screw for fastening the letters to a back board. Thereupon the inserted tab member is locked in place.

The completed assembly is shown in FIG. 3.

Each letter is provided with a leading edge and a trailing edge at the same angle, in this case about 45, to match a letter oriented at about 60. Other script designs would, of course, have somewhat different angular orientation.

The interlocking parts are located substantially midway between upper and lower ends of the letters and lie substantiallyon the center line C of the common line occupied by all of the letters when arranged in their normal fashion.

The letters may be molded of synthetic resins such as polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, or other suitable resins. The surface of the letter is more attractive if provided with an embossed finish 32.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated and it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An individual script character for assembly in a sign including a plurality of said characters joined together in an interlocked and aligned relationship, said character comprising a body, a leading rib extending upwardly at an angle from the right side of the body and a trailing rib extending downwardly, locking means carried by said ribs, said locking means of a said trailing means, adapted to engage a said locking means carried by a said leading rib of an adjacent said character, and alignment means carried by said trailing and leading ribs for alignment of adjacent letters about a common center line an alignment means of a leading rib cooperating with an alignment means of an adjacent trailing rib when a plurality of said characters are joined together.

means and locking means are common.

3. The character of claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a tongue in one rib arranged to be engaged in a mating slot in the other of the ribs.

4. The character of claim 1 wherein a portion of one of the ribs is severable and the severable portion is received in the other of the ribs in an interlocking arrangement.

5. The character of claim 1 wherein the body of the character is provided with bores to receive fasteners for mounting the character ona backboard, i A

2. The characterjof claim 1 wherein said alignment Rdemnc sFC ted T v v UNITED STATES PATENTS EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner WENCESLAO J. CON'IRERAS, Assistant Examiner us. or X.R. 

